www.aucklandnow.co.nz
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Family fun: John, right, and Britten Somerville are regular riders at the Waitakere BMX club's track in Ranui.
Photo: TUREI MACKEY
Bonding over BMX
By TUREI MACKEY
FATHERS usually get
involved in their children's
sports as umpires or coaches.
But John Somerville
decided to get immersed.
The 42-year-old took to the
track at the Waitakere BMX
club last year -- the same club
his 10-year-old son Britten
has been with for four years.
I never did BMX as a kid
but enjoyed watching as a
spectator here so thought I
might as well give it a crack
myself,'' he says.
I've got to say, the kids
make it look easy. Just get-
ting over the first jump with-
out falling off is an art in
itself.''
The Somerville family joins
several at Waitakere BMX
who are involved in the Auck-
land championships being
held at the Ranui club on
Saturday.
Paul Morrow returned to
BMX several years ago with
his two sons Damon and
Jayden and says there aren't
many sports where parents
can take part with their chil-
dren.
It is a good source of fit-
ness and to be able to do any-
thing alongside your children
is special,'' Mr Morrow says.
Around 220 riders will
compete including Britten
who is looking to improve on
his ninth place finish from
last year.
I'm looking for fourth or
fifth this time round
especially as I know the home
track inside out,'' he says.
John won't be racing at this
year's championships because
he's part of the organising
committee.
I will be making sure all
the riders are ready to go and
ensuring the event runs
smoothly. On the day I will be
behind the scenes a lot.''
The club is wanting good
results from members like
Paul Morrow and Brad and
Emma Gates while club
president Robin Atkinson is
hoping the Ranui track will
be in good condition.
The championships will
serve as a farewell to the
club's aging racetrack.
We are just happy to be
having the event and want to
make sure it is successful. We
haven't had one for a while,
not since 2009.
We are just polishing the
track to make it more friendly
for the younger riders,
especially the five year-olds.''
Talks are already under
way to upgrade the venue
with plans to complete any
refurbishments by next
year.
We have formed a group
with all of the other cycling
codes with the aim to create a
cycling hub in west Auck-
land,'' he says.
We want to have a track
that meets national require-
ments so we are looking into
rebuilding the current track
or building a new one.''
Go to www.waitakere-
bmx.com for more information
on the Auckland BMX Champs.
IN BRIEF
Body found
Police found the body of
Zebedee Pua who went
missing from O'Neills Bay on
January 19.
The 15-year-old was swept
out to sea while swimming
with his brother at the bay,
near Bethells Beach.
Police and surf lifeguards
searched for him this week
and the police Eagle
helicopter found his body at
Kirikiri Bay, north of Bethells
Beach, at about 5pm on
Tuesday.
Explosion
Residents and customers at
the Green Bay shops were
forced to flee the area after
an explosion at a suspected
methamphetamine laboratory
on Monday night.
Five fire trucks were called to
the blaze on Godley Rd
around 5.30pm after a
member of the public
noticed fire coming from the
residential flat above
Golden Crown Takeaways.
Fire safety officer Ray
Coleman says fire crews
spent an hour putting out the
blaze which caused severe
damage to the kitchen area of
the small flat.
''It would appear that the flat
was used for drug
manufacturing,'' he says.
''It had the chemicals and
paraphernalia used for that
kind of stuff.''
Mr Coleman says the fire
was caused by a vapour
explosion.
Detective sergeant Peter
Litherland from the Waitakere
CIB says police are
investigating the possibility
that the flat was the site of a
methamphetamine
laboratory.
''We would like to speak to
two males who were seen to
leave immediately after the
fire started.''
Mr Litherland says police are
still investigating the scene of
the fire.
The two businesses on
the building's ground floor
are already back up and
running.
Golden Crown Takeaways
owner William Wong says
he's missed out on some
business but he's happy to
get his property cleared by a
health inspector.